Simona Halep has been granted a qualifying wildcard entry for the 2025 Australian Open, marking an exciting opportunity for her return to Grand Slam competition following the lifting of her doping suspension.

Halep faced a provisional suspension after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat during the 2022 USOpen. Initially handed a two-year ban, this was subsequently extended to four years due to a second doping violation linked to her athlete biological passport.

Simona Halep successfully appealed her punishment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) earlier this year, resulting in a reduction of her ban to nine months. Having already served her suspension, the former World No. 1 made her comeback to tennis in March 2024. Having completed her suspension, the former World No. 1 confidently returned to tennis in March 2024, beginning her comeback at the Miami Open with a wildcard entry.

She was granted a wildcard entry into the Madrid Open, but she chose to withdraw, citing fitness concerns. Furthermore, Halep faced exclusion from the French Open, despite it being the venue where she claimed her first Grand Slam title in 2018.

Halep to begin Australian Open as a qualifier

The 2019 Wimbledon champion has decided not to apply for entry to SW19 and was not included in this year's US Open. Simona Halep, currently ranked World No. 877, is now setting her sights on making a strong comeback at the 2025 Australian Open.

Although she missed out on a main-draw card, she has been offered a qualifying spot at the tournament, providing her with an opportunity to make a scintillating return.

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